2020 Honda Pilot: Reviews, Photos, and More

Published Thursday, January 30, 2020

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Powerful, practical, and playful, this SUV is easy to love.

Thanks to crowd-pleasing midsize SUVs like the 2020 Honda Pilot, family vehicles can be fun and exciting. Jam-packed with technology and driver-assist features, the perennially practical Pilot is an all-star choice. Whether you've got children that need to be ferried to their next appointment or you're just looking for something comfortable for your next vacation, the Honda Pilot is a good choice.

While we currently do not have many 2020 Honda Pilots on our lots, we look forward to selling more in the future. If you love the 2020 model, you should also consider prior model years of the Honda Pilot with similar features.

LX, EX, and EX-L trims can seat up to eight while the Elite and Black trims seat up to seven. The Touring trim, right in the middle of the selection range, is available with seating for seven or eight.

Engine options:

All trims include a 3.5L V6 engine. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims have a six-speed automatic transmission and the Touring, Elite and Black trims include a nine-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire and paddle shifters.

Tech features:

A five-inch touchscreen is standard on the base LX while EX and above trims include an eight-inch touchscreen.

A wireless charging pad is included on the Elite and Black trim levels.

Navigation is optional on the EX-L trim and standard on the Touring and Elite trim levels.

The base LX includes a five-inch display screen and the EX and above trims step it up to an eight-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM satellite radio, voice command, Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™.

Rankings

The Honda Pilot has a strong sales history at CarMax. It has been featured in these ranking lists:

5 Reasons to Buy

1. Stacked with Technology

Honda's technology suite, Honda Sensing(r), is very feature-rich. It includes collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning, just to start. Auto high-beam headlights are also standard across the board, along with a multi-angle rearview camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and more.

2. Quiet Cabin

Honda's commitment to a smooth and quiet ride is evident in the technology they use. First, the noise-canceling system eliminates noise and emits an anti-noise signal through the speakers, neutralizing annoying road sounds. The 202 Honda Pilot also uses vibration-damping insulators and high-density plastic sheeting to absorb vibration. Inside the door pillars of the Pilot, insulation and foam are strategically placed to control sound transmission, while custom engine and transmission mounts help the vehicle achieve a ride that is as quiet as possible.

3. Cavernous Cargo Space

All the way down to the adjustable cargo floor, the 2020 Honda Pilot is configured to maximize the space available. Change up the settings for the floor itself to create a storage compartment under your feet or use the entire space for your passengers to stretch their legs. The seats are easily moved aside and even the base model offers a 60/40 split so you can travel with some gear and your friends and hit the open road. With nearly 84 cubic feet of cargo space when all of the seats are folded down, you could certainly throw a few big coolers in the back and tailgate all day without having to run home for more supplies.

4. Smart and Thoughtful Interior Touches

How many vehicles can you think of that offer 15 cup holders spread out among three rows? That's five in the front, six in the middle, and four in the back. No arguing about who gets to put their smoothie in the cup holder, because each passenger can bring more than one beverage and share the space in harmony. Clever storage solutions are sprinkled throughout the 2020 Honda Pilot, providing nooks and crannies for all of the things you need to travel. Map lights are installed in all rows, so your passengers have their own light source during night-time drives. You'll appreciate Honda's CabinTalk™ in-car PA system (available with the EX-L trim equipped with the Navigation package, as well as Elite, and Black trims). This allows you to talk comfortably to your second- and third-row passengers without having to shout over your shoulder.

5. Entertainment and Comfort Tech

The 2020 Honda Pilot added a significant number of updates to the infotainment system, including an all-new eight-inch touchscreen with crisper graphics for EX and higher trims. In addition, Honda added more intuitive buttons on the steering wheel to control the tech. The 2020 Honda Pilot benefits from these upgrades and takes it a notch higher with the Black trim, which features a jaunty sport feel.

EX – L: Includes a power liftgate, auto-dimming rearview mirror, sunroof, leather upholstery, and second-row USB ports. There is also an available package to the EX-L that includes navigation and rear entertainment systems.

Safety and Reliability

The 2020 Honda Pilot is a newer model and we currently have a limited number in our inventory. You may also consider other used Honda Pilots with similar features. Below are RepairPal reliability ratings for prior model years of the Honda Pilots.

Overall RepairPal Reliability Rating - 3.5/5.0

Average annual cost of unscheduled repairs and maintenance: $542.00

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2010–2019 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features. Learn more at www.carmax.com/repairpal-reliability.

NHTSA Safety Ratings - 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot received overall 4/5 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Click here to look up a specific vehicle.

Similar Vehicles

If you're interested in the 2020 Honda Pilot, you should also check out these similar vehicles from previous model years.

In 2019, Honda launched an all-new Passport to kick off the third generation of this popular two-row SUV. Every Passport is standard with a zippy 3.5L V6 generating 280 hp matched with a nine-speed automatic transmission. On the Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims, FWD is standard, and AWD is standard on the Elite trim and optional on the other three. Comfortable and responsive, this five-passenger vehicle is a great choice. These features are available for model year 2019:

The fifth generation of this sporty crossover started in 2017 and continues to be widely praised by CR-V owners. The base model includes a 2.4L four-cylinder engine generating 184 hp and upgrading to the EX trim brings along a turbo 1.5L inline-four. Wide openings make this vehicle a snap to get in and out of for you and your passengers, and the interior is spacious and thoughtful. For instance, one convenient trick is the ability to vent all four windows by pressing and holding down the door-unlock button. Furthermore, beautifully-sculpted panels will appeal to your sense of style as a nice bow to tie up this package. These features are available for 2017–2019 models:

Equipped standard with both a rear-seat reminder and Teen Driver technology, Chevy's three-row SUV is firmly planted in thoughtful design. With attractive contours and a powerful 3.6L V6, the Traverse stacks up against its competitors in style. Up to eight passengers can fill this SUV and still have room for cargo; the Traverse boasts up to 98.2 cubic feet of space.

High-intensity discharge headlamps

Chevrolet Infotainment System with seven-inch touchscreen

Tire-pressure monitoring system

The Bottom Line

If you're looking for a three-row SUV, the 2020 Honda Pilot is stocked with a bevy of technology features and comfort touches to make every trip a great one. Even if you don't always need eight seats, it's always nice to have room for all the friends and family you want to bring along for the ride.

1Based on CarMax average prices from December 2019. Actual prices may vary based on your selected model year, features and trim packages. Prices do not include tax, title, tags, and any applicable fees.2Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov.3Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.4RepairPal Reliability Ratings are provided by RepairPal and CarMax is not responsible for their accuracy. Learn more at repairpal.com/reliability.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to these featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.

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